The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-07-27
Inf lei Objections.


Inf lei Objections.
1nfdelity does not Judge Christ ianity
by any infdel standard of right os
wrong, for infdelity has no stand ard
except some fragment or other Of
Christianity which 1t has picked up.
Hence infdels judge sectarianism as it
exists, often grossly exaggerating some
of its faults and defects, by the standard
laid down in the Word of God, which
presents Christianity as it should be, in
stead of sectarianism as it is.
We shall gain nothing by denying
these facts, or by claiming that intidels
are wholly wrong in their assertions and
accusations. Christians have right to
learn something from their enemies, and
they have an opportunity to do it,
when they come to meet the in6dels of
this age. Their fercest assaults are
made upon rhings which Christians
ought to forsake, abhor and dcnounce,
and it is the part of wisdom for Chris
tan men to turn with purpose of heart
to the Lord, and pray that they may no
longer be stumbling blocks to the
wicked, but that they may be fitted to
become members of that GLORIOUS
church, not having spot or wrinkle or
any such thing" which shall meet the
approval of the Lord, and dwell in His
presence for e7ermore.-t Armory, Ros.
ton.
A. Great oed.
We are compelled to believe by the
stern array of facts and figures that at
the end of this boasted century of mis-
sions, while not 100000 converts,
nominal and real, have been won to
Christianity in pagandom heather and
Mohammedan are 200, 900, 900 more than
they were at the beginning of the cen
tury. That the votaries of these faiths
increase seventy times faster than the
followers of Christ. The church is out
stripped on lis own methods. They
,, evince in these modern days propa-
gandism and aggressiveness far superior.
The necessity in the foreign field cannot
be overtaken on the present line of
church work.
At home the multiplied massing of
antagonistic forces, the increased zeal,
activity, and audacity may we'll inspire
profoundest thought. The decay of rev.
erence for the holy Sabbath, the lower
ethical standard OF church membership
in many quarters, the inculcation of
false doctrines from the sacred pulpit,
the diffusion Of revolutionary theories,
the general unrest and threatened vol
canic upheaval, the prevailing goddess
ness among individuals and nations are
potent and alarming. At home and
abroad the church is put on the defensive.
She scarcely holds her own. She does
not beat down and back these advan-
cling hosts of anti-christ, and sweep for
ward with general and decisive triumph.
But there is no room for discourage
mcnt. The church has within call ade-
quate reserved forces. The promised
Third Person in the adorable Godhead
is more than sufficient. When one
stands beside Calvary and beholds the
person of the Atoncr, and the purport
of the act when one looks u on the clo-
ven tongues Of fire on the Pentecostal
morning and witnesses the marvellous
displays of Divine power with the as
u'ei perpetuisy of Calvary and Pente-
cost, to doubt IS to dlshonor him who
gave and him who came; it is guiltily
to minify the cross and ignore the Holy
Ghost. The blood of Christ has not
lost its efficacy, the Pentecostal
gift was not eternally exceptional in
in its spiritual aspects, standing
ont single aud alone, evidence
of what our God could do. but
would not repeat. The need requires the
miraculous to-day: Pentccosts all along
the line, remarkable manifestations of
Divine power. overwhelming outpour-
ings of the Holy Spirit upon entire COM
munities, making efficient old agencies
al improving new ones, sending con-
yiction 20 the hitherto unrcachaGle.
arousing spirit of inquiry, creating
spiritual hungering and thirsting, the
goddess restrained, saints cheered. Is
this too hard for Our God' Is it not
within the Divine bond? Is not the
church promised victory on these pres
ent linesi DO not the symbolic blood
and oil suffice? Human faith determines
and measures Divine workings. The
chu .ch must believe that nations can
and shall be born in day. Cod will
honor this expcctaut praycr.-N. Y.
Observer.
What Canadian Doctors Think.
In sponse to the inquiry addressed to
them recently by the Canada Citizen, is